Can You Get Cavities With Braces?

The risk of cavities while you have braces should not deter you from getting braces. The benefits of braces massively outweigh any sort of risk. In fact, getting braces can even help reduce your risk of getting cavities in the future as crooked teeth often pose a higher risk for tooth decay and cavities.

However, you should be diligent and consistent with your oral care routine. The reason you are at an increased risk for cavities while you have braces on is due to the small crevices harmful bacteria can get into. Because the purpose of braces is to shift your teeth in some capacity, it requires brackets, wires, and sometimes rubber bands to move your teeth. This framework helps shift your teeth into the desired position. The braces can trap food or other harmful bacteria into small places that may be more difficult to get to with braces as compared to without. When food or other harmful bacteria combine and remain in the crevices of your teeth or braces, it can cause decay. Over time the decay can result in cavities.